'Happy either way', Ben Stokes keeps door open for Pakistan-hosted 2025 Champions Trophy

England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has hinted at a future coaching career following his eventual retirement from international cricket.

Reflecting on his journey and past successes, in a recent interview with The Telegraph, Stokes has expressed his desire to remain connected to the sport through coaching. 

He also shared that his passion for cricket continues to inspire him, and while satisfied with his career thus far, he did not entirely rule out a return for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

"I can’t see myself being someone who when the day comes when I do stop playing, I’ll just not be involved with cricket. I do see myself probably wanting to go down the route of being a coach. I think that’s just with my love for the game. When I’m done playing, I’d love to be able to try and affect a few people’s careers," Stokes stated.

The 33-year-old who retired from One Day Internationals (ODIs) before making a surprise return for the 2023 World Cup, hinted at the possibility of playing in the 2025 Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan.

Though England's disappointing performance in the 2023 World Cup raised doubts about his white-ball future, Stokes remains undecided on his involvement in upcoming events.

"It’s hard to turn down those sort of big events, isn’t it? If I didn’t play another white-ball game, I’ll be very content with how many games I’ve played and what I’ve been able to achieve. I don’t know what the plan is going forward, whether they see me being a part of that or not. I’m sure there’ll be some conversation at some point about that. And I’ll be happy either way," he said.

Stokes has been a cornerstone of England's recent success, playing pivotal roles in their 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup victories. However, his career has been marked by frequent injuries, with his latest hamstring injury ruling him out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.